Thematic Apperception in Science & Technology

(Psychology and Technology Frontiers)

PSYCHOLOGY AND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ARE TWO OF THE DIAGRAMATICALLY OPPOSITE BRANCHES OF STUDIES. THESE TWO BRANCHES DO NOT SEEM TO MATCH IN THE REAL WORLD. BUT A STUDY OF THE LITERATURE CONFIRMS THAT PERCEPTION IS WELL INTERTWINED WITH SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. WE HAVE TRIED TO BRING THESE TOGETHER INTO A COMMON PLATFORM BY CITING SOME CASE STUDIES. THE RESULTS OBTAINED ARE INTERESTING AND USEFUL.

Both of the words “perception” and “apperception” are related to understanding and interpreting what one experiences. Perception is an interpretation of what one’s senses are saying whereas apperception is more about a conscious comprehension

Both the terms are related to mental processes and psychology and have been interpreted through various well-designed methods like assessment centers, questionnaire surveys, group discussions, group behaviors, and social interactions. Social psychologists have carried out fewer experiments by relating perceptions and apperceptions with biochemical reactions taking place in human brains (when humans are involved as subjects) to complete their studies.

Ground vibrations; for example; caused by an excavation-intended-blast in mines disturb people residing in the vicinity of the mines. When residents from these habitations complaint mining administration about the adverse impacts of the vibrations on their dwelling, structures (houses), physical and mental health, the mining authorities, sometimes in the guise and pretexts of showing concerns, conduct scientific experiments, collect and collate data, present interpreted data and try to shirk their responsibilities towards the residents that vibrations resulting from blasting is not the causes of problems. To cut the long story short, the perceptions and apperceptions of the two viewers do not match. One of the reasons for this mismatch is – while the dwellers are the sufferers the studies (often limited in numbers) are carried out by involving professionals for who production and productivity are of importance.

A survey of the literature showed that perception and apperception are limited mostly to social sciences and psychology. The correlations between apperception in the fields of technology and sciences are less. At the same time when psychologists find out a correlation between an act and reaction to the act, they prefer medicines (chemicals) to detach the reaction from the action. For example, anxiety is perceived as a result of mental stress, a noisy atmosphere, unhealthy human interactions, social pressure, and unhealthy lifestyles. But the illness “anxiety” is treated by chemicals along with counseling sessions and meditations. Memory improvement medicines and techniques, treatments of autism and schizophrenia are achieved by the application of chemicals present in medicines.

An observation of matter, material, behavior, debate, generates spontaneous processes of action-reactions make us to perceive perceptions. The mind's full observations of events, news, etc force us sub-consciously or consciously to take sides either “for” it or “against” it. It is almost impossible to remain “neutral and nonchalant. When we make “to perceive” a practice, we subconsciously train our brain to store and analyze all observations and quickly correlate acts with impending reactions. Say, for example, a blasting engineer in the mines observes emission of black color smoke whenever he conducts a blast by use of explosives of the manufacturer “A” and emission of orange fumes when explosive of the manufacturer “B” is used. He will use these observations and possibly perceive and make a mental calculation to use a “mix of the explosives of A and B” with intent to nullify the emissions of black and orange smoke. Irrespective of the outcome and correctness of the action plan of the blasting engineer it can be said that perceptions have made him act to rectify things.

Apperception thus, is, important to interpret observation.

At the same time, here in this book, we are trying to break the fundamental perception of the perception that it cannot be used in technology. In this context the book – Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman is worth remembering. The book is filled with descriptions of many experiences that are light-hearted in tone, such as his fascination with safe-cracking, studying various languages, participating with groups of people who share different interests (such as biology or philosophy), and ventures into art and samba music.

           Another book titled “Homo Deus” by Yuval Noah Harari is a must-read to understand how the understanding of biochemical reactions inside the human body can encourage present-day humans to achieve happiness, immortality, and God-like powers.

It is relevant to mention here that the use of neo words like useless class, techno humanism, dataism, internet of all things (AKA the Matrix) amongst a plethora of many other words. To bring in examples, on and off, we shall quote from these two books.